Should You Take Benadryl During Pregnancy? This is The Best Antihistamine Guide in The World!

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting and fulfilling moments in a woman’s life. However, we cannot deny the fact that it is also the most grueling experience you can ever have since your body will undergo many physical changes.

Since your body needs to accommodate the growing baby inside of you, there are some health issues that you can experience. These may include allergies, cough, cold and sleeplessness. To solve this health issues, the first medication that would come to mind is Benadryl.

But the sad part is, you cannot take just about any medication that you can get your hands on because you may never know what effects it may have on your baby. So you should ask yourself—is it safe to take Benadryl during pregnancy? Read this article to find out!

What is Benadryl?

Benadryl is the most popular brand name of the medication, Diphenhydramine. This type of drug is classified as an antihistamine which works by blocking the effects of histamine in the body, which makes it a great medication for fighting off allergic reactions. In addition to that, it is also useful in preventing cough and colds.

Most antihistamines have the side effects of drowsiness and Diphenhydramine is most notably one of them. Because of this, Benadryl is also often prescribed to people who are having some problems falling asleep.

This medication comes in different dosage strengths (25 mg and 50 mg for an adult) and is available in various forms (capsule for adult and suspension for children).

What Is it Used For?

Now that you already know the basic information about Benadryl. You may be wondering—what are its uses? What are the other conditions that would require its use?

In addition to cough, colds, and sleeplessness, this medication is also used in addressing and managing other medical conditions such as motion sickness, anxiety disorders, nausea, urticaria, rhinitis (both allergic and perennial), sleep initiation as well as maintenance disorders.

Some of these conditions are common for pregnant women, and that is why many women have been asking—is it safe to take Benadryl during pregnancy? Well, that is the issue that we will be settling in the next section.

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Is it Safe to Take Benadryl During Pregnancy?

In general, you should try to avoid any medications that can induce sleepiness when you are pregnant. This is because the majority of these drugs have the capability to cross the placenta so these may have an effect on your baby.

But you may have heard that some women have been prescribed this medication while they were pregnant so it may have you asking—how safe can this medication be for you? For your information, Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) has an FDA Pregnancy category of Category B.

What does this mean? This category states that the medication can indeed cross the placenta. However, animal studies conducted on this medication have shown only a little evidence that it will have harmful effects on the fetus.

However, there is a little disclaimer that you should know about—there is no adequate data that shows its effects on human pregnancy. Because of this, FDA states that this drug has not been proven to be completely safe during pregnancy. That’s why pregnant women should obtain a prescription from their doctors.

How Much Benadryl is Safe For You?

If you have been prescribed with Benadryl, how much is safe for you to take? What is the most effective and safest dosage strength that you should be prescribed with?

Doctors usually prescribe one capsule with 25mg or 50mg dosage strength every six hours during the first trimester. During the second and third trimesters, you should not take more than 25 mg in six hours.

When Should You Avoid Benadryl?

While studies show that Benadryl is relatively safe for pregnant women, you should keep in mind that pregnancy is a high-risk condition and it is important that you avoid possible complications that come with taking this medication.

With this in mind, you should understand the fact that there are some conditions wherein you should take extra precautions in taking this medication.

These conditions are as follows: glaucoma, low blood pressure, thyroid disorders, breathing disorders, intestinal or stomach problems, kidney or liver problems, urinary problems or if you have colostomy or ileostomy.

What are Possible Side Effects of Benadryl?

To stay safe, it is also important that you be aware of the side effects of this medication.

Some of the common side effects that you may experience include drowsiness, disturbed coordination, thickening of bronchial secretions, uncontrollable tongue movements, painful urination, epigastric irritation, palpitations, constipation and little to no urination.

In addition to this, some users have reported a few rare yet serious side effects. In one study conducted by John Hopkins University, it has been discovered that this medication may cause hypersensitivity that can lead to rashes, eczema, and pruritis.

In addition to that, one research also showed the association of the drug with gastrointestinal problem﻿s when used prolonged or continuously. Some of the gastrointestinal disorders that it may cause include dry mouth, vomiting, and nausea.

Since it can affect the central nervous system, another study showed that long-term use of this medication might lead to impaired motor skills. In addition to that, an overdose of Benadryl may also result in mental impairment.

Conclusion

Some of the most common health conditions that pregnant women experience include colds, coughs, allergies and sleeplessness. These conditions can be addressed with the use of Diphenhydramine but is it safe to take Benadryl during pregnancy?

Since it is classified by the FDA under the pregnancy category B, it shows that the medication is relatively safe for pregnant women based on animal studies. However, there are not enough human studies to guarantee its safety, and that is why you need to consult your doctor first before taking this medication.

If you have some questions or there are some issues that you need to clarify, you can talk to me in the comments section! I will respond there as soon as possible!

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